New Report Shows Americans Are Worried About Water Pollution
By Peak Johnson
The American population has concerns around water quality, a new study has shown.
And for good reason. Events like the contamination in Flint, MI, and the Trump administration’s moves to ease up on water protections have people looking at their water a little more closely.
According to a new Gallup poll that was reported on in The Huffington Post, “63 percent of respondents said they worried ‘a great deal’ about pollution of drinking water, while 57 percent of overall respondents also said they were concerned about pollution of rivers, lakes and reservoirs.”
The Huffington Post reported that “respondents’ water pollution concerns are likely linked to the high-profile drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan, which has elevated an issue that is often out of sight and out of mind.”
In particular, the poll found that “lower-income respondents were far more concerned with water pollution than more affluent ones.”
The same accounted for non-white respondents. The poll reported that 80 percent had said that they were worried about water pollution, “compared to just 56 percent of white respondents.”
Nneka Leiba, deputy director of research at the Environmental Working Group, told The Huffington Post that “the situation in Flint is just one example of a water quality concern likely weighing on Americans’ minds.”
A report released last year and reported about in The New York Times “found that 5.2 million Americans’ drinking water supplies are tainted with cancer-linked synthetic chemicals.”
A number of cities and states have taken to strengthening their water pollution rules surrounding lead contamination. For example, in August of last year, the School District of Philadelphia decided to reevaluate drinking water outlets for lead concentration levels in 40 schools throughout the city.
In Michigan, the state will spend $47 million in order to provide safe drinking water in Flint by replacing lead pipes and giving away bottled water.
According to The Detroit News, the recently announced funds come “in addition to $40 million previously budgeted to address Flint’s widespread lead-contamination crisis.” The total will come to $97 million, as Michigan also plans to put $10 million aside in order to cover unexpected costs.
To read more about improving water quality visit Water Online’s Drinking Water Contaminant Removal Solutions Center.